Wampler Velvet Fuzz review

Black Velvet pedal, if you please

  • £199
  • €215
  • $299
We love a good fuzzbox, and the Velvet Fuzz is one of the most versatile we've heard lately

MusicRadar Verdict

Versatile fuzz with two voices for 60s and modern sounds.

Pros

  • +

    Strong, versatile tones. Responsive. Good build.

Cons

  • -

    Not much.

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The Wampler Velvet Fuzz is more than just a three-knob fuzz pedal - it also has a Big/Tight switch to change its voicing to suit your needs.

"Brian Wampler has based this model on the 'aggressive yet smooth' sound of a vintage fuzz driving a Marshall stack"

Brian Wampler has based this model on the 'aggressive yet smooth' sound of a vintage fuzz driving a Marshall stack, and on the Big setting you can hear that in action with plenty of bottom end and lots of fat, squelchy compression on your fuzzed-out notes - right in the zone to get a Hendrix vibe going.

Switch to the Tight mode and there's still plenty of fuzz, but it's leaner with a tightened bottom end, tilting more towards distortion than out-and-out fuzz. Everything from Jack White riffage to comfortably smooth Gilmour leads can be dialled in on this setting.

We love a good fuzzbox, and the Velvet Fuzz is one of the most versatile we've heard lately: it will give you that vintage 60s thing, but also something that you may find more current, all cleaning up seamlessly with your volume knob.

Trevor Curwen has played guitar for several decades – he's also mimed it on the UK's Top of the Pops. Much of his working life, though, has been spent behind the mixing desk, during which time he has built up a solid collection of the guitars, amps and pedals needed to cover just about any studio session. He writes pedal reviews for Guitarist and has contributed to Total Guitar, MusicRadar and Future Music among others.